Short Summary

Spain has become the third European nation to make a formal application for membership of the European Economic Market.

Description

Spain has become the third European nation to make a formal application for membership of the European Economic Market. Spain joins Greece and Portugal on the waiting list of countries waiting for permission to join what has been referred to as Europe's Rich Man's Club. But enlargement of the E.E.C. from the present nine members to 12 poses both economic and institutional problems for the Community. France and Italy are worried that agricultural competition from the new E.E.C. applicants will severely affect their own markets, particularly in the fruit and vegetable and wine sectors.

SYNOPSIS: However, despite such problems it was a scene of friendly welcome at the Egmont Palace in Brussels as the Spanish Foreign Minister Senor Marcelino Oreja Aguirre, handed over a formal application letter to the E.E.C. Council President, Mr. Henri Simonet. The application ceremony follows lengthy meetings between Senor Oreja and senior E.E.C. officials, including Commission President, Mr. Roy Jenkins. The Commission will be asked to produce an opinion on the application but this will take at least six months. However, a correspondent for the Reuters News Agency in Brussels has reported that opinion within the EEC is expected to be favourable now that Spain has a democratic government.